Sr. Project Manager

IO Datasphere, Inc.; Madison (WI); Remote; USD 96,000 - 165,000; Full time

Job summary

IO Datasphere, Inc. seeks an accomplished leader to manage a multi-year Child Care Systems modernization initiative.

This role blends strategic guidance with hands-on execution during planning, procurement, and implementation with a SaaS vendor, coordinating IT leadership and stakeholders to stay aligned. The candidate will define scope, coordinate stakeholders, develop roadmaps, manage vendor engagements, and leverage governance structures to ensure successful deployment.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of project management experience on large initiatives.
• Experience with SaaS vendor engagements and procurement.
• PMP or similar certification.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate modernization roadmap and implementation strategy with stakeholders.
• Assess current-state needs, technology, and readiness for modernization.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and executive decision points.
• Develop procurement strategies and supporting documentation (RFI/RFP/SOW).
• Evaluate vendor proposals and support contract negotiations.
• Advise leadership on vendor selection and governance structures.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures.
• Coordinate activities across business, policy, finance, procurement, and tech teams.
• Prepare executive briefings, status reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, and escalation protocols.
• Create foundational project artifacts (charters, workplans, risk logs).
• Support development of business requirements and future-state operating models.
• Ensure transition structures from planning to implementation.

Skills

Large-scale modernization

Procurement planning

Vendor management

Executive engagement

Governance design

Cloud platforms

Multi-vendor management

Change management

PM certification

Project artifacts

MS Project

Tools

MS Project

Job description

Our client seeks a highly experienced individual to serve as the Child Care Systems Modernization Implementation Manager. This individual will provide strategic guidance and direct execution during the planning, procurement, and implementation phases of a multi-year child care systems modernization initiative with a SaaS vendor. The Project Manager will be responsible for ensuring IT leadership and stakeholders stay informed at all points of the transformation effort while working closely with the business area Strategic Consultant to ensure all parties involved remain aligned. Candidate will assist in defining scope, coordinating stakeholders, developing roadmaps, managing SaaS vendor engagements, and coordinating IT resources and leveraging established governance, planning, and operational structures to ensure successful implementation. The contractor will be expected to directly produce work products and deliverables rather than relying on dedicated project staff. Success in this role requires both strategic management and direct execution.

Tasks

• Coordinate with the Strategic Consultant to develop and maintain an overall modernization roadmap and implementation strategy.
• Assess current-state business needs, technology systems, organizational readiness, and modernization needs.
• Identify risks, dependencies, and critical decision points requiring executive engagement.
• Recommend phased approaches for implementation, organizational change management, and business transformation.
• Collaborate in the development of procurement strategies and supporting documentation.
• Draft and coordinate Requests for Information (RFIs), Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Statements of Work (SOWs), and related procurement materials.
• Evaluate vendor proposals and support contract negotiations.
• Advise agency leadership on vendor selection, contracting approaches, and governance structures.
• Establish performance expectations and accountability measures for future vendors and implementation partners.
• Coordinate activities across business, policy, finance, procurement, and technology teams.
• Facilitate executive decision-making and ensure alignment among partners and stakeholders.
• Develop governance structures, decision frameworks, reporting processes, and escalation protocols.
• Prepare executive briefings, status reports, and strategic recommendations.
• Identify resource needs and recommend future staffing and contractor support models.
• Develop foundational project artifacts, including charters, workplans, risk registers, issue logs, and implementation frameworks.
• Support development of business requirements, process improvement opportunities, and future-state operating models.
• Establish structures necessary for transition from planning into implementation.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities Required

• Experience facilitating executive-level decision-making and stakeholder engagement.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.

NOTE: WI residency required. Must be WI resident or willing to relocate at own expense. Position is mostly remote but can require staff to come onsite as necessary with sufficient notice. Onsite work is not likely, but candidate should be prepared to come onsite if required. Project management certification or successful completion of a recognized project management curriculum is required at time of submission

Location: Madison, WI

Contract: 1+ years

Skills Required

• Significant experience Leading large-scale technology modernization or digital transformation initiatives with a SaaS vendor
• 15+ years - Project management experience of large initiatives
• 10+ years - Experience with procurement planning
• 15 years - Experience with the development of Project Artifacts (plan, charter, status reports, etc.)
• 10 years - Experience preparing written Reports
• 12 years - Experience preparing executive Briefings
• 12 years - Experience with MS Project or equivalent
• Demonstrated experience developing and managing complex technology procurements
• Experience with vendor selection, contract negotiation, and multi-vendor environments.
• Strong knowledge of project management, organizational change management, and systems implementation methodologies.
• PMP cert or similar

Skills Desired – A Plus To Have

• Experience with government program systems
• Experience modernizing legacy systems to a SaaS platform.
• Solid understanding of cloud-based platforms, modular procurement strategies, and agile delivery approach
• Experience coordinating between internal teams and SaaS vendors.
• Experience establishing governance structures for large-scale modernization initiatives.
• Rate depends on experience
• Candidates authorized to work in the US are encouraged to apply. We can accept H1b, , TN, and other valid work visas for IT. However, we cannot accept OPT or CPT visas at this time.
• Companies submitting candidates should only submit direct W2 employees for this position.